Foundation pedestal or pier



Mag 29, 1923. I 115456,.499 J. M. FITZ GERALD FOUNDATION PEDESTAL ORPIER Filed Feb. 9. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet l I III May 29, 1923. L45Al9 J.M. FITZ GERALD.

FOUNDATION PEDESTAL 0R PIER if I J7 7 May'ZQ, 1923. msmw J. M. FITZGERALD FOUNDATION PEDESTAL OR PIER Filed Feb. 9, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented llilay 29, 19235..

aura star insets ATENT JOHN M. FITZ GERALD, OF RIVER/ FOREST, ILLINOIS.

FOUNDATION PEDESTAL OB PIER.

Application filed February 9, 1920. Serial No. 35?,263.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. Firz GERALD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Foundation Pedestals or Piers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to piers or pedestal for supporting an upright poleor mast rigidly in the ground, or for sustaining any other suitabledevice thereon.

The principal objects of these improvements are to provide a strong andrigid pier or pedestal which will aiford notably great resistance todeflecting forces applied to the superstructure, such as a mast, and toforces tending to cause the pier or pedestal to move horizontally in theground, as where it carries longitudinally-moving signal rods used inrailway construction. A prime object is to provide a'pier or pedestal ofrelatively light weight, containing a relatively small amount ofmaterial, and which is, nevertheless, very strong and durable. An otherimportant object is to provide a device of this kind which may beinstalled easily and eXpeditionsly, and by a few workmen. A furtherObJGCiZ is to provide a form of device which is of simple construction,and, in the case of the sectional piers shown, one which includes aplurality of pieces of the same or similar form and construction wherebyboth the manufacture and installation of the device are simplified andcheapened.

The concrete piers and pedestals heretofore in general railroad use havebeen solid and consequently of great weight, and, whether they were mace, shipped and installed as a monolith or whether they were formed insitu along the right-of-way the work of installation has called for alarge force of men and other great expense.

An important objection to the solid pier or pedestal is the difiioultyof leveling it after it is positioned in the receiving hole in theground, and also the difficulty of tamping under it to give it a. solidresting place. In these improvements I have provided a form of pierwhich ispeculiarly simple and easy of installation, which can be leveledand otherwise adjusted withease and expedition, which provides.amaterially large amount of space for theworkmen, which admits of easytamping under the lower reaches or sole-extensions of the frame parts,and which can be embedded withgreat solidity in the earth as thefilling-in process proceeds, all with little effort and expenditure oftime.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,

Figure 1. is a top view of a preferred form of monolithic structure forsupporting signal masts and the like;

F ig. 2 is an elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a monolithic form appropriate for supportingsignal rods in railway work;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a sectional con struction on the general planof the monolithic structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is fragmentary view of the top or table of F 5 showing any of itssides;

Figs. 6 and 7 are horizontal sections on the lines 66 and 7-7respectively of Fig. 5 viewed respectively in the directions of thearrows;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation and 9 is an edge view of any one of thefour-lower sections of the device of Fig. 5;

F 10 is a perspective view of the lower frame work of a modified form ofdevice;

Fig. 11 is a iew showing this last mentioned modification with the tablein medial vertical section, one of the frame-like parts in side view andthe other thereof in section;

Fig. 1.1 is a fragmentary sideview of the table of Fig. 11;

Fig. 12 shows how the two frame-like parts of Fig. 10 are assembled; andI Fig. 13 is a horizontal section of the device of Fig. 11 complete onthe line l313 9. of Fig. 11 viewed in the direction of the arrows.

The device of each of the figures illustrated is of reinforced concrete,which is strong, provides a relatively light-weight device when in theshapes shown, is durable, and, moreover, is relatively cheap. Theinvention is not limited, however, to concrete construction.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the device comprises a horizontal top ortable portion 20 and a plurality of downwardly extendingverticallydisposed anchoring elements 21. These anchoring elements aresubstantiallyvane-like in general effect, and are spaced apart, withedge portions directed outwardly forming V-shaped recesses beings 22were not present, and. my description vane-like includes such solid memlbers. p

I provide lateral extensions 23 at the lower portions of these anchors21 respectively constituting soles or feet which give a more securefooting upon the ground and also provide resistance against upliftingstrains when the device is in use.

The under surface of the top or table is preferably slanted upward andoutward, as at 24, to provide against. the uplifting of the pedestalwhen the ground swells due to frost, such surfaces providing for theeasy movement of the earth along the surfaces 24 and thus avoiding anymaterial lifting of the pier.

In forming the device of Figs. 1,2 and 31 first make a plurality of"frames of re inforcing iron, each frame having an outer member 26, abottom member 27, an inner casting or of mold construction may beupright member 28, and an upper member 29, the outer member 26extendingupward at 30 toform a stopor rest for spacing the frame in themold, theframe being made a rigid structure by wiring as at 31. The fourframes are bound together by wire, as at 32, and this bound-togetherreinforcing iron is then inverted and placed in a casting form or moldand the concrete filled in from what is normally the bottom portion ofthe device, that is to say, the-device is cast in inverted position. Ialso provide cores for the bolt holes 34 and for the trunking conduit35. Any approved method of used.

Referring .to Fig. 4, the top or table 36 may be considered rectangularin top view instead of circular as shown in Fig. 1. This device hasthesame kind of parts and interior reinforcing as those already describedfor the device of Fig. 1. Its chief difference is in the provision ofmeans for bold ing a bolt adjustable laterally on the top or table, andshows the application of the device to a different use. Thesebolt-holding means are shown as a metallic element 37 having the. recess38 adapted to accommodate the head and shank of the bolt for lateralmovement. The slotted part 37 is embedded in the cement at the time thede r vice is formed.

Referring to Fig, 5 thedeviceas a whole is quite similar to that of Fig.1, but it comprises a plurality of sections instead of being amonolith.- It includes top or table section 40 and a plurality of loweranchoring sections 41. The four sections 41 shown. are-identical witheach other and can'therefore be made from the same mold, and no the foursections interfit with each other and form a tight joint when boltedtogether. For this bolting I provide (by coring) a pair of spaced-apartupperbolt holes 47 and 48 and a pair of lower spaced-apart bolt holes 49and 50. In Fig- 5 bolts 51 andv 52 extending in one direction are shownin the bolt holes 47 and 49 respectively, while bolts 53 and 54 (dotted)extending at right angles to the direction of the other bolts are shownin the bolt holes 48 and 50v respectlvely. Each section 4]. has aringbedded therein. These sections may be made ina horizontally disposedopen-top mold.

The top or table 40 of the device of Fig. 5 is shown as rectangular andits bottom part is provided with a plurality of upwardly extendingrecesses 56 which cross each other and are, in short, a counterpart likestructure of reinforcing iron 55 emin female form of the upper portions42, of

the sections 41 when the sections are bolted together, and the parts 42fit into these recesses 56 respectively.

The sections 41 may be lowered one by one into the hole in the groundprepared for. re ceiving the pedestal and there bolted together andleveled, andthen the top or table I 40 may be lowered upon thisframe-like structure with the upper ends 42 thereof projecting into therecesses 56, and there- 4 upon the upper and lower structures may berigidly secured together by means of bolts 57 extending through aligningholes cored in the upper and lower parts as shown'. Angle irons 60, 61,62 and 63spanthe parts 42 respectively and preferably engage the parts42 while the endsof the irons are still free from the under surfaceofthe topsec tion', thus providing a strong clamping action for the bolts57. The top and bottom elements are thus locked together with anexceedingly strong and rigid connection. 5

In order to conduct the trunking wires from outside the device to thecenter of the top or table portion so as to beled therefrom to thehollow signal mast I form a channellike recess 56 in the top of each ofthe lower sections 11 and a corresponding recess in'the upper surfacesof the recesses 56, thus forming a pair of channels 67 (Fig. 5)extending from side to side of the device and intersecting each other inthe middle of the table 40. A cored vertical hole 68 in the tableconnects with these holes 67 and thus the wires may be led in from anyor all of the four directions of these holes 67.

I reinforce the top or table 40 by means of a plurality of metallicrings 69 and '70 and a plurality of transverse wires 71 and 72.

Referring to Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive the top or table 75 may beconsidered substantially the same as the table 40 having bottom recesses'76 well shown in Fig. 11. The trunking wires may enter through atrunking device 77 in the form of a casting embedded in the concrete.The sub-structure or anchoring frame-like parts beneath the table 75 aresecured in the recesses 76 by bolts 74 after the manner of securing thecorresponding parts together in the device of Fig. 5.

The chief distinguishing feature in the device of Fig. 10 is in the formofthe anchoring elements depending from the top. It will be noted thatthese are of two kinds. The frame-like part 78 is a ring-like structurehaving a continuously extending top portion 7 9, a continuouslyextending bottom portion 80 and lateral upright connecting members 81.The frame part 82 has corre sponding upright members 81 but thehorizontal members 84 and 85 are notched at 86 and 87 respectively toaccommodate the upper member 79 and the lower member 89 respectively ofthe frame part 78. To provide the notches mentioned the upper and lowermembers of the frame 82 are offset in the middle as shown.

Fig. 12 shows how the two frame sections 78 and 82 are assembled. Inorder that the section 82 may come into the vertical position and form atight fit with the frame 78 1 round the surfaces 90 and 91. Aligningbolt holes 92 and 93 accomn'iodate the pin 94 and thus relative movementof the two frames is avoided at the bottom thereof. Relative movement isovercome at the top by means of the bolts 74. There is thus formed anexceedingly rigid structure which is of light weight, of only three mainparts, and of parts which can be made. shipped and assembled atrelatively small expense.

The frames 78 and 82 may be made in horizontally-disposed open-topmolds. After the molds are about half filled the ring-like frame 95 or96 of reinforcing iron is inserted, as are also the cores for theseveral bolt holes, and thereupon the mold may be filled with cement andsmoothed off with a trowel.

rigid with the top or table portion and ex- Y tending downward andoutward from the under-surface thereof and defining a substantiallyhorizontal base formed by the bottom portions of the anchors, theanchors being relatively'long at the bot-tom so as to cover a relativelygreat area, the adjacent anchors providing recesses between them whichopen outwardly at the side portions of the device and which also opendown-- wardly at the bottom thereof to provide space between adjacentanchors for filling and tamping under them respectively.

2. A foundation pier of the character described comprising a normallyhorizontal top or table portion, and a plurality of spaced-apartvane-like anchors rigid with the top or table portion and extendingdownward from the under-surface thereof. the adjacent anchors providingrecesses between them which open outwardly at the side portions of thedevice and downwardly at the bottom thereof, the anchors lying insubstantially vertical planes which cross each other at the middleportion of the top or table, there being a materially large openingthrough the anchors respectively whereby adjacent of said recesses arein communication with each other.

3. A foundation pier of the character described comprising a normallyhorizontal top or table portion, and a plurality of spaced-apartvane-like anchors rigid with the top or table portion and extendingdownward from the under-surface thereof, the adjacent anchors providingrecesses between them which open outwardly at the side portions ofthedevice and downwardly at the bottom thereof, the anchors lying insubstantially vertical planes which cross each other at the middleportion of the top or table and being relatively long at the bottom inthe outward directions and forming a substantially horizontal base, thelower portion of the vanes respectively having lateral extensions in thesubstantially horizontal direction to provide resistance againstuplifting forces when in use.

1. A. sectional foundation pier of the character described comprising ahorizontal top or table portion and a plurality of anchoring elements,with means for holding the an choring elements rigidly to the top ortable portion so as to extend downward therefrom, each anchoring elementcomprising a continuous structure having a substantially vertical innermember, a substantially horizon-- tal top member, a substantiallyhorizontal bottom member and an outer member connecting the ends of thetop and bottom men1- bers, means for holding the inner members rigidlytogether with the lower members forming substantially V-shaped recessesbetween adjacent ones thereof, and means for holding the upper membersrigidly to the top or table portion.

5. A sectional foundation pier of the character described comprising anormally horizontal top or table portion having recesses in theunder-surface thereof for accommodating anchoring elements therein, aplurality of anchoring elements each having substantially horizontal topand bottom members and side members connecting the top and bottommembers, the top members projecting into said recesses, means forholdingthe anchoring elements rigidly to the top or table portion, and meansfor holding the anchoring elements rigidly together, the anchoringelements being spaced apart at their outer portions and providingsubstantially V-shaped recesses open at the bottom between adjacent onesthereof.

6. An anchoring section for a foundationpier comprising an elementhaving a substantially horizontal top member a substantially horizontalbottom member, and spacedapart upright members connecting the top andbottom members forming substantially an open frame, with means forconnecting the section to atop or table portion, and

means for connecting the section to a similar anchoring section.

7. A sectional foundation pier of the character described. comprising aplurality of vane-like anchor sections, each havinga top 1 part and abottom part, means for holding the anchor sections rigidly together withthe sections extending away from each other from a common locality todefine between each adjacenttwo thereof a recesswhich opens outwardlyand downwardly, a top or table portion adapted to rest upon the top partof the anchor sections respectively, and means operable from above thetop or table portion for securing said portion rigidly to per partsthereof exposed, a top or table.

member having its under surface formed to interfit with the upper partsof the anchoring elements respectively, and means operable from abovethe table for holding the table rigidly upon the anchor elements.

JOHN rrrz GERALD.

